This document provides instruction on pronouncing the /j/ consonant in English. It begins with an overview of the /j/ sound as a palatal approximant consonant. It then discusses how to position the tongue, lips, and velum to produce the sound. Examples are given of words containing /j/, including "yellow" and how "y," "u," and "ea" can represent the sound. The document concludes with listening and speaking activities to practice distinguishing and producing /j/ in different words like "young," "year," and "your."

1. Hanoi, 11st April 2013
CLASS E2
/ j / consonant
Bich Phuong – Ha
Nga

2. CONTENT
PART 1. THEORY
PART 2. PRACTICE

3. HOW TO PRONOUNCE /J/
/j/ sound:
A Palatal Approximant Consonant

4. HOW TO PRONOUNCE /J/
• Velum raised
• The tongue body approaches the hard palate
• Lips are neutral to spread but rounded in
anticipation of round vowels.
Begin with the sound /iː/ and move your
tongue quickly to make the next sound.

5. HOW TO PRONOUNCE /J/
"y" is usually pronounced /j/
Ex. yellow /ˈjeləʊ/
"u" can be pronounced /jʊ / or /juː/
Ex. mutual / ˈmjuːtʃuəl/
"ui" can be pronounced /juː /
Ex. suit /sjuːt/
"ea" can be pronounced /j/
Ex. Beautiful / ˈbjuːtɪfl /

6. Activity 1: Listen and repeat
Young /jʌŋ/ Yak / jæk/
Year /jɪər/ Yesterday /ˈjestərdeɪ/
Yard /jɑːrd/ Usual /ˈjuːʒuəl/
Yes /jes/ University /juːnɪˈvɜːrsəti/
Your /jɔː(r)/ Interview /ˈɪntərvjuː/
Yam / jæm/ Suit / sjuːt/

7. Activity 2: Find the word that is most different from others
1. A. tuition B. suitable C. suitor
/tjuːˈɪʃən/ /ˈsjuːtəbļ/ /ˈsjuːtə(r)/
2. A. beauty B. suicide C. cucumbe
/ˈbjuːti/ /ˈsuːɪsaɪd/ / ˈkju ːk ʌmbə(r)/
3. A. yolk B. judge C. juice
/jəʊk/ / dʒʌdʒ/ /d ʒu:s/
4. A. mutual B. milk C. mute
/ˈmjuːtʃuəl/ /milk/ / ˌmjuːt/
5. A. jeans B. just C. ja
/dʒi:nz/ /dʒʌst/ /ja:/

8. Activity 3: Practice in pair
1. She is a young university student.
/ʃiː ɪz ə jʌŋ ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsəti ˈstjuːdənt/
2. I’m waiting in the queue for an
interview.
/aɪmˈweɪtɪŋ ɪn ðə kjuː ˈfər ən ˈɪntərvjuː/
3. May I use your iron?
/meɪ aɪ juːz jɔː(r)ˈaɪən/
4. Yes, you may use it any time.
/jes juː meɪ juːz ɪt ˈeni taɪm/
5. He’s a popular hockey player this year.

9. Sources:
http://www.pronunciationtips.com/consonant_j.htm
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~krussll/phonetics/articul
ation/describing-consonants.html
http://www.tienganh123.com/phat-am-tieng-anh-co-
ban/1538-consonant-j-phu-am-j.html

10. Sources:
http://www.pronunciationtips.com/consonant_j.htm
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~krussll/phonetics/articul
ation/describing-consonants.html
http://www.tienganh123.com/phat-am-tieng-anh-co-
ban/1538-consonant-j-phu-am-j.html